2 Convicted In Philadelphia Cop's 2023 Killing

PHILADELPHIA — Two men have been convicted of murder and related crimes in connection with the deadly 2023 shooting of a Philadelphia Police officer.

The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office said Yobranny Martinez-Fernandez, 20, of Camden, New Jersey, and Hendrick Peña-Fernandez, 23, of Pennsauken, New Jersey, were found guilty in the October 2023 shooting homicide of Philadelphia Police Officer Richard Mendez at the Philadelphia International Airport.

Mendez was a husband, father of two, and a 22-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police department. He was 50 years old.

>>>RELATED: Theft Ring Tied To Philly Cop's Slaying Broken Up<<<

Martinez-Fernandez was convicted of murder, murder of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault, robbery, and related crimes. He was also convicted of third degree murder in the deadly accidental shooting of co-conspirator Jesús Hernán Madera Durán, the DA's office said.

Peña-Fernandez was convicted of second-degree murder, robbery, theft, and more charges.

Martinez-Fernandez was taken into custody Oct. 16, 2023, about four days after Mendez was fatally shot. Peña-Fernandez was apprehended Oct. 18, 2023.

On of Oct. 12, 2023, Mendez and along with Officer Raúl Ortíz got to the Philadelphia International Airport parking garage to begin their shifts.

Mendez and Ortiz confronted four young men as they tried to steal a Dodge Charger in the parking garage.

Authorities said Martinez-Fernandez shot Mendez in the torso four times. He was taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he died. Ortiz was struck in the arm and survived his injuries.

One of the suspects, later identified as Durán, was recklessly shot by Martinez-Fernandez during the incident, authorities said.

After the incident, Martinez-Fernandez and Pena-Fernandez put Durán into a getaway vehicle and dropped him off at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

The remaining co-conspirators drove to an abandoned warehouse in Cranberry, New Jersey, and set fire to the getaway vehicle.

Cell tower data, surveillance footage from various locations in Philadelphia and New Jersey, recovered DNA, and eyewitnesses were all integral in prosecuting the case.

Martinez-Fernandez was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, plus 25 to 50 consecutive years. Peña-Fernandez was sentenced to life imprisonment without possibility of parole.